My Story Vault: Cultivating Possibility at Williams College with Hope Ross Gibaldi

Hope Ross Gibaldi joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo to reflect on her journey from a young parent experimenting with crafts and Mary Kay to a recognized leader in entrepreneurship and innovation. Now the Director for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the 68 Center for Career Exploration at Williams College, Hope discusses the importance of experiential learning and programmatic inclusion in liberal arts settings. Her story traces back to a transformative gap year in Argentina, where she became fluent in Spanish and gained a global perspective that continues to shape her work.

Hope recounts how she and her husband Chris launched a preschool-style sports program, Learn in Motion, after identifying a gap in programming for young children. A $10,000 community development grant helped them formalize the business and shift from parent-facing services to institutional partnerships. This experience, combined with her participation in and facilitation of entrepreneurship accelerators, deepened her interest in building entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Throughout the episode, Hope emphasizes the power of doing, the role of reflection, and the need for multiple entry points into innovation—especially for students who don’t identify as traditional entrepreneurs. From starting a craft business to leading Valley Venture Mentors through the pandemic, Hope’s path exemplifies persistence, curiosity, and a desire to help others uncover their own impact.

Links:

Hope Ross Gibaldi:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hoperossgibaldi/

Learn in Motion:
https://learninmotion.org/

Berkshire Innovation Center Accelerator Program:
https://www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/accelerator-program

Narrative Research Group:

https://narrativeresearchgroup.org/

Produced by Nate Christy, BIC Studios